Machine for pulling flax.



J. G. CRAWFORD & R. M. BENNETT.

MACHINE FOR PULLING FLAX.

APPLICATION man SEPT. 1. I9l6.

' Pat/en Feb 19, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

l. G. CRAWFORD & R. M. BENNETT,

MACHINE FOR PULLING FLAX.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 7| 19l6.

l fiwfll gn memm Feb.19,19186 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

name.

JAMES GLASGOW CRAWFORD, 0F BELFAST, AND ROBERT MALCOLM BENNETT, OFCARRYDUFF, IRELAND.

MACHINE FOR PULLING- FLAX.

Application filed September 7, 1916.

To aZZ'w/wm it mag concern:

Be it known that we, JAMES GLAscow CRAWFORD and ROBERT MALCOLM BENNETT.British subjects, residing at Belfast, Treland, and Carrydufi, countyDown, l-reland, respectively, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in lvltiClllIlQS for Pulling Flax, of which the followingis a speci fication.

The invention relates to a machine for pulling flax from the ground inwhich a rotary drum is fitted with a number of combs mounted atintervals across the periphery set at such an angle asto enter thegrowing flax and engage the bolls of the flax as the drum rotates.

It consists in the particular construction and dispositionof partsoperated by a motor which also propels the machine.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing, whereof:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved machine;

Fig. 2 is a plan View thereof; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmental perspective view, on a greatly-enlarged scale, ofthe stripping mechanism.

Referring more particularly to said drawing, 1 designates a rotary drum,which is arranged at the forward end of a suitably designed frame orchassis 2, and is mounted upon a horizontal shaft 3. This drum is openat its opposite sides, and its peripheral wall or shell is formed by aseries of symmetrically-disposed members 4, which are carried bysupporting posts or bars 5, connected intermediate their ends in somesuitable manner to the shaft 3, four of such members being utilized inthe construction illustrated. These members have their end portions bentor extended laterally in opposite directions, as shown; and between thefree edges of the forward extension of each member and the rearextension of the preceding member, there is provided an open space 6,through which a comb 7 is projected and retracted. The combs thus extendtransversely of the drum, for the full width thereof, and each iscarried at its opposite ends-by a pair of'a'rms 8, pivoted totransverselyarranged rods 9 mounted within the drum, the swingingmovements of the rods necessary to efiect the forward Specification ofLetters Patent.

Patented Feb. 19, 1918.

Serial No. 118,901.

and backward movements of the combs into and out of operative positionbeing obtained by means of angularly-arranged links 10 and 11. One pairof these links is provided for each comb, so that four pair in all areused, all of the pairs being located at the same side of the drum, aswill be apparent upon inspection of Fig. 2. The linksare of unequallength, as shown, the front links 10 being somewhat longer than the rearlinks 11, and the meeting ends of the links being pivotally connected tothe ends of the transverse bars 12 which form the backs or bodies of thecombs. T ie outer ends of the said links are pivotally connected torollers 13, each of such rollers forming a joint or coupling between theinner ends, the short link 10 of one pair of links and the long link 11of the succeeding pair, so that all of the combs are thus connectedtogether for synchronous movement.

During the rotation of the drum, which is effected in the mannersubsequently explained, the rollers 13 are caused to travel along thegroove 14 provided in a statir'inary cam 15, that is fixed to theadjacent side rail of the chassis, with the resultthat the. desiredin-and-out movements of the combs are produced, the distance between onecomb and the next being suliiciently greater than the length of the flaxstalks, to allow for the full length of the flax between any pair ofcombs. The drum is preferably mounted in such a manner as to permit itsposition to be adjusted in accordance with the length of the flax to bepulled and for this purpose the ends of its supporting shaft 3 arejournaled in bearing blocks 16, which are slidably fitted invertically-slotted brackets 17 fixed to the chassis.

Directly to the rear of the drum, there is arranged an endless band orconveyer 18, which receives the flax from the drum and carries ittransversely across the machine to a binder 19, where it is bound intobundles and discharged from the machine at the side away from thestanding crop. The binder is such as is commonly employed 011 reapingand other agricultural. machines, and for that reason is merelyindicated diagrammatically. Tt is omitted from Fig. 1 for the purpose ofmore clearly illustrating the gearing hereinafter referred to.

Mechanism is preferably provided for inrespectively, to horizontalshafts 9.6 and 25.

The latter are supported inside plates 27, suitably attached tothechassis, and to their inner facesthere arerfixed in some desired 7way two tracks 28 whose rear portions are inclined inward at 29'; seeFigs 2 and 3. These tracks preferably consist of spaced upper and lowerrails, between which extend the twisted or spirally bent ends 30 of thebars 20, the arrangement being such as to cause a partial revolution ofsaid bars about their axes just before they reach the end of theirtraverse along the tracks; This rotary movement of the bars serves tofree their pins from the flax, which is stripped therefrom by means of aset of. longitudinal fingers 31 interposed between the chains 22 and theconveyer 18, said fingers being spaced apart to permit the pins totravel therebetween.

The machine as a whole is preferably of the self-propelled type, asshown, its movement being efiected by means of a motor indicateddiagrammatically at 82, Fig. 1. This motor may be connected up in anysuitable'manner to drive the traction wheels 33, and is also utilized toactuate the drum, the conveyer and the binder. In the constructionillustrated, the motor is caused to drive a cross-shaft 34, provided atone end with a gear 35 and at the other end with a sprocket 36, theformer meshing with and driving a gear 37 which is mounted on a stubshaft 38 and has fixed to it a sprocket 39, the said stub shaft beingmounted in the chassis. The sprocket 89 is connected by a chain 40 withalarger sprocket41, fixed to the axle 42 whereon. the traction wheels 33are mounted. The sprocket '36 is connected by a driving chain 43 with asprocket 44, fixed to the drum shaft 3, to rotate the latter, said chainhaving its lower stretch fixed to the front shaft 26 of the pin-barchains 22. The conveyer 18 and the binder 19 may be driven in anydesired way from the motor, illustration being omitted by in drivingengagement with sprocket 45, which is fast on the end of a reason of thediagrammatic showing of'the binder.

In operation the machine is driven forward into the crop of standingflax," the combs 7 of the overhanging drum 1 engaging the heads of theflax stems while the wheels 33 traverse a portion of the ground alreadycleared of the crop. The combs are set to enter the growing flax at suchan angle that as they move forward and upward they engage the bolls ofthe flax and pull the flax stalks out of theground, the shape of thedrum being such that. the forward extension or bent portion of theperiphery forms breast or lever which assists in the pulling as themachine travels forward, whilethe 'rear extension providesa recessedportion which allows the unpulled flax to remain standing almostperpendicular,-and thepulling combs to beset at the most favorable angleforengagin'g the fiagas' shown in the drawings. When the combs-intheir'revolution pass over the topof the drum, they are withdrawn by thecam 15 disengaging.

is stripped off bythe fingers 3'1. The speed of rotationof the drum inrelation to the speed of the tractioirwheels 33and traverse" of themachine is regulated so that each comb enters the standing flax to therear of where the previous one leaves it. lVhat we claim as ourinvention and desire to protect by Letters Patent is 1.- In a machinefor pulling'flax, a rotary drum constructed with'a slotted periphery;

combs pivotally mounted within the interior of the drum. and-arranged tomove-in and out through the slots in its said periphery; means forrotating saiddrum; a stationary element located in juxtaposition to saiddrum and provided. with a closed cam groove; a set of rollers, one foreach comb, arranged to travel in said groove; and link connectionsbetween said combs nd rollers to cause the travel of the latterin unisonduring the rotation of the drum, so as to effect the in-and-outmovements of the combs.

2. In a machine for pulling flax, the combination, with pulling means;of a delivery conveyer; and stripping means, comprising an endlesstraveling element embodying rotatably mounted bars provided with pinsadapted to engage the flax stalks, strip them from said pulling means,and deposit them upon said conveyer 3. In a machine for pulling flax,the combination, with pulling means; of a delivery conveyer; andstripping means, comprising an endless traveling element embodying aplurality of rotatably-mounted bars provided with pins adapted to engagethe flax stalks and strip them from said pulling means, means forperiodically imparting a rotary movement to said bars so as to elevatetheir pins, and means cooperative with said pins at such time todisengage them from said stalks and thereby deposit the latter upon saidconveyer.

at. In a machine for pulling flax, the combination, with pulling means;of a delivery conveyer; and stripping means, comprising an endlesstraveling element embodying a plurality of rotatably-mounted barsprovided with pins adapted to engage the flax stalks and strip them fromsaid pulling means, a pair of tracks with which said bars are engaged atopposite ends during a portion of their travel, said tracks having partsthereof offset so as to impart a rotary move mentto said bars to elevatetheir pins, and means cooperative with said pins at such time todisengage them from said stalks and thereby deposit the latter upon saidconyeyer.

In a machine for pulling flax, the combination, with a rotary drumhaving its periphery provided with a series of slots; and means forrotating said drum; of a series of pulling combs carried by said drumand arranged to be projected and retracted through said slots; and meansfor automatically effecting the in-and-out movements of said combsduring the rotation of the drum; said drum having its periphery formedadjacent each comb with a forwardly projecting breast to assist the combin its pulling ac t1on.

6. In a machine for pulling flax, the combination, of a rotary drumhaving its pe riphery formed by a series of symmetricallydisposedmembers whose end portions are extended laterally in oppositedirections, the free edges of the forward extension of each member andthe rear extension of the preceding member being spaced apart to providea slot; means for rotating said drum; a

series of pulling combs carried by said drum and arranged to beprojected and retracted through said slots; and means for automaticallyeffecting the in-and-out movements of said combs during the rotation ofthe drum; the forward extension of each of said members forming a breastto assist the adjacent comb in its pulling action.

7. In a machine for pulling flax, the combination, of a rotary drumhaving its periphery formed by a series of symmetricallydisposed memberswhose end portions are extended laterally in opposite directions; meansfor rotating said drum; and a series of pulling combs, one for each ofsaid members, carried by said drum, one comb being located between theforward projection of each member and the rear projection of thepreceding member; each of said forward projections forming a breast toassist the adjacent comb in its pulling action.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in presence of tWosubscribing witnesses.

JAMES GLASGOW CRAWFORD. RC-BERT MALCOLM BENNETT. Witnesses J 011xMGQUADE, Crms. J. KILMARTIN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. O."

